VQ009 is the Step Aside EP, a spellbinding release from the dream team comprised of @taleofus & @thugfucker , aka Life and Death. Step Aside is a two tracker of sinuous sonic skullduggery conjured up by Tale of Us alongside the initial Thugfucker duo of Greg Oreck & @holmarmusik , here also employing the vocal talents of Scott McCloud. The first track “Step Aside (Lightweight)” is a fantastic slice of laconic house with a growling, pulsing bass line that shifts into an analogue acidic form as warm ominous pads provide the foundation for Scott’s snarling dismissive vocals. “Morgana” is the EP’s second track, a darker, hallucinogenic journey that rides a jacking groove, underpinning a bubbling playful synth line that gradually increases its twisted and hallucinatory qualities until a volley of rhythmic sci-fi bloops is unleashed, firing atop the track’s skittering percussive conclusion.
Thugfucker and Tale of Us each specialize in richly atmospheric, emotionally charged dance music that has been widely praised for its depth, originality, and enduring impact on the underground scene. Their collaborative work here as Life and Death on the Step Aside EP continues their tradition of creating standout, genre-defining tracks that blend deep emotion and wry humor with sophisticated, dancefloor-ready production.
New Year’s Day • join me & the friends for a 16-hour marathon of dancing & community at Second Place • east bay location • day-to-night // noon-3am • get away from the rain & get your groove on 🖤
what started as a silly idea to “just throw a pop up park party” accidentally turned into this wild gathering of some of my favorite humans + on a v special sound system + in a curated space we’ve been working nonstop to create for you.
msg me for details & hope to see u soon 🐈⬛
Saw one of the most mind blowing shows ever last night at @69atlantic — such a pleasure to see someone at the absolute top of their game. If you ever get a chance to see @danidaortiz don’t miss it!
Dropping back in here to share a new Mellow Trip and wish everyone well that’s embarking on this fool’s errand. In such troubling times it sometimes feels extra foolish to head out into the desert like this. But the best people I tend to encounter out there are the kind of fools who don’t just believe we can make the world a better place but are willing to do the difficult work of trying to make it happen. And in places fertile with such brazen love and hope, who knows what kind of wonders may grow?
Link in bio (obvs) for the new mellow trip.
With love, always.
Just heard the very sad news of Danielle Moore’s passing. An incredible singer, musician and human, she used her life energy to spread love and joy and hope thru the world and today with her passing, the world has lost a bright light. May her memory be a blessing and may the ripples that she created with her life continue to spread beyond the edges of her time here and continue spreading love, joy and hope throughout the world. In that vein, I will be donating $1000 in Danielle’s name to the MAPS organization — an organization that is dedicated to enabling the healing power of psychedelics to be experienced by more than the few of us who have found it helpful while using it in the mostly grey legal area in which it currently exists. Many years ago, Holmar and I did this remix of Crazy P using the voice of Terrence McKenna, joined with that of Danielle’s in order to help spread this message. In my experience, psychedelics have helped heal the traumas of my past and help me become a better human and understand the truth that none of us are strangers but all truly parts of one larger whole. I believe that with the spreading of this essential truth, war will become obsolete, the inequities of a world where there are enough resources for all but just so poorly distributed (where some have so much while many have too little) would end and we could all truly live in the utopia that we all deserve — in peace and harmony with all… (continued in comments)
Not for the faint of heart and not for the lazy but always worth the effort if you’re willing to make it.
As has become tradition, I’ve posted a new mellow trip to my Soundcloud.. link in bio along with some playlists that I’ve put together (and updated) for the trip(s) out there ;)
Looking forward to this year whatever it chooses to bring. It certainly always surprises.
Hope to see you there.. if that’s your thing. If not, hope you enjoy whatever trip strikes your fancy.
Nice new spot down thru a doorway, across a passage and hidden in the midst of NYC’s madness. Come join us tonight for a dance, we promise to show you a good time. ❤️
I’ve been laying pretty low on social media these days and to be honest my brain feels better for it. But my love for the music and for the people that make up this global community has never been stronger. I’m so grateful for what the music has always given me and what it continues to give. I’m so grateful to be able to share my love for it and do my part to contribute. And I’m so grateful to all the many friends and colleagues who work their asses off (many behind the scenes) to share it with the world and help spread the message of positivity, inclusivity and love that it is always meant to transmit.
I’m also grateful for all the incredible people it has connected me with all these years who truly are my family. For those in San Francisco specifically I’m so looking forward to reconnect tomorrow at the start of the new year. What a joyous way to start the year ahead.
May 2024 bring peace to all. May we all find the love inside ourselves and find our own ways to share it with the world. Let us find ways to end our own suffering and the suffering of others.
Music is love and love is for everyone.
Love and thanks to you all! ❤️
Well, aside from all the lovely memories and muddy shoes I also managed to break my scapula and a few ribs while out in the desert this year. It was an accident and yes I was being a daredevil and should have been more careful. But it could have been *a lot* worse. Thankfully after a battery of visits with specialists in SF (thank you to all the doctors and many friends who helped me find good doctors in a difficult moment!) it looks like I won’t need surgery and should be back to what goes for normal around here in 3-6 months. While that is for sure frustrating, it’s also kind of amazing. A week ago I could barely move without my whole body screaming out in agony and as of the last few days I’m starting to get back range of motion in my arm and the pain is waaaaay more manageable and improving daily. Our bodies are truly incredible. Mom always said if you don’t have your health what do you have? But of course it really takes something like this to drive the point home. Don’t forget to appreciate the basics.
I also have to say a big thanks to all the Burning Man medical volunteers and workers both at 9 & B and at Rampart. In the midst of the mud those guys still had me x-ray’d within 15 minutes of walking in, no cost, no insurance forms, just ‘how can I help you feel better now?’ As well as everyone who were so incredible and helped me do the heavy lifting I was rendered incapable of. Always with a smile and a welcome inappropriate joke… I’m a lucky man on so many levels.
I’m extra extra sad not to have been able to make it to @harvestlovesyou this past weekend. It was an event that I had been especially looking forward to and had prepared a special trip out “Greg’s Mellow Trip” set just for the occasion. Seeing the photos of the event pop up online left me with a rare and acute case of FOMO but I will stretch heaven and earth to make it there next time and make it up to everyone.
And if you made it to the end of this long post, congrats! And if you attended Harvest festival, please hit me up in my DMs here as I have something special to share with you until we can meet in person…
